Viscosimeter



Oct. 12', 1943. H. ALBERTINE VISCOSIMETER 2 sheets-sheet' 1 Y Filed July 16, 1941 mitm? Oc-t. 12, 1943. H. ALBERTINE VIS COS IMETER FiledJuly 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ecrze, YM

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Patented @ab 1.2, i943 resi VISCUSIMETER Herman Albertine, Rutherford, N. J., assignor to Rogers Products Co., Inc., Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 16, 1941, serial No 402,663

14 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for measuring the viscosity of liquids such as, for example, lubricating oil. Anvobject of theinvention is to provide apparatus of this nature from which a reading may be readily taken. Another object is to provide apparatus which may be readily and thoroughly drained and cleaned after each operation and in this connection an object of the invention is to provide a capillary assembly or unit which may be readily removed and replaced. A further object is to provide a capillary assembly which may be adjusted longitudinally of the measuring tube in which it is disposed with the parts of the assembly always in predetermined relation. A further object is to provide for proper flow-guidance of the liquid in the measuring tube in a manner to prevent turbulence and air entrainment. Still another object is to provide a simple and compact unitary structure designed throughout for the attainment of quick and accurate readings in use. How these and other objects are attained will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of an illustrative, and at present preferred, Aembodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1.4

Figure 3 is an elevation of a capillary unit which appears also in Figure 1 and is visible in part in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is avertical section, on an enlarged scale, of certain drive and control instrumentalities which appear in elevation at the upper left of Figure 1 Figure 5 is a plan view, with parts in section and with other parts removed, of a base portion which appears at the bottom of Figure l.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front elevation of the base portion shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a section substantially on line 8-8 n of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a section substantially on line 9 of Figure 5, and

Figure 10 is a section substantially on line,

Voir I 8. In a bore in the bottom wall of body portion I6 and coaxial with bore 20, is threaded a plug 2l, the inner end of this plug, except for a spring centering boss 22, being flush with the inner surface of the bottom wall of the reservoir, this surface being inclined throughout downwardly and to the left, Figure l. The front wall of the body portion has upper and lower projections 23 and 24 provided with parallel bores sloped as the bottom wall of the reservoir i8 and connected, through coupling nuts, with a U- shaped transparent tube 25 whose arms are inclined as the bores with which they are iushly joined.

Projecting upwardly from the body portion I6 are hollow necks 26 and 21 which through inwardly and downwardly sloped counterbores 28 and 29, Figure 8, are in connection with the reservoir'l, these being plugged in use.

.The foot portion l'l of the base casting has a at horizontal circular bottom surface 30 in which are formed intersecting bores 3| and 32 for the reception of pump gears 33 and 34. A bore 35, which appears most clearly in Figure 10, connects with the hollow interior of the foot portion and constitutes the pump inlet. A pump outlet 36 leads to a hollow protuberance 3T at the top and at one side of the foot portion.

Gear 33 is fixed to a verticalvshaft 38 which is journaled in a coaxial bore 39 just above ther gear and extends upwardly through a hollow internally threaded neck 40, as mostrclearly shown in Figure 6. A coaxial bore above gear 34 provides a bearing for the axle pin 4l of the gear. Secured and sealed against the bottom surface 30 is a bottom cap 42 provided with bores which receive and journal a lower extension o f shaft 33` and the-lower portion of pin 4|.

opening in a horizontal wall 44 so that the base is supported on the latter through a gasket 45 and is secured by means of a nut 46 threaded on the extremity of theneck 43 against the bottom wall. Cap 42 is provided with verticalv bores 41 and 48, most clearly shown in Figure 9, communicating with the inlet and outlet sides of the pump respectively, tubing sections 49 and 50 being threaded ushly into the bores and'equipped at their lower ends with petcocks 5I and 52, respec The cap 42 has a reduced. neck 43 which as here shown is passed through an iiushly overlying l a ring which has a laterally downwardly thereon.

which may be Reference numeral 56 designates generally a head having parallel arms 51 and 58 through ends of which the upper portionr of tube 53 extends to be rigidly fixed by set screws as at 59, Figure 4. Head 56 includes a tubular portion 60 aligned with the bore 20 of the base portion I6. The lower end 6I of the tubular portion 60 is constituted as which is engaged the upper end of a transparent graduated measuring tube 62, the upper extremity of the tube bearing against a shoulder 63 which forms the annular bottom boundary of an enlargement 64, the upper surface of this boundary beingv sloped downwardly throughout and the end of the tube.. The lower end of tube 62 is received in the bore and engaged in a stuiling box 65. To prevent the tube from jarring downwardly, its lower end is engaged by a compression spring 66 whose lower end rests on plug 2| and is centered by boss 22. Both the tube 62 and the spring 66 are insertable through the opening which plug 2| closes, or they may be inserted in the base prior to securing the head on housing 53.

Above enlargement 64 tubular portion 60 has a bore 61 having a diameter at least as large as the internal diameter of tube 62. The bore is continued through an annular extension 68 which projects upwardly into a cylindrical enlargement 69, the upper end of the extension being outwardly beveled. The bottom wall of the enlargement is sloped throughout toward an outlet port 10 which is similarly sloped. A neck 1I opposite the outlet 10 has a bore outer end of the bore being closed by a transparent disc 13 which is retained by an annular nut 14.

Slidable in the upper end of enlargement 69 is projecting ear 16 overlying an ear 11 on the head 56, Figure 2. Threaded in ear 16 is a screw 18 which for ma` nipulation has a knurled head 19, the lower end of the screw being cylindrically reduced and having thrust and journal support in a bore in ear 11, the screw being retained by a cotter pin 80 below the latter. It will be evident that by turning screw 18 ring 15 will be threaded upwardly or 'Ihe ring is provided with aligned horizontal bores in a fore and aft axial plane, these bores removably receiving a pin 8| secured at one end to a flexible retainer 82 whose other end is fastened to the ring.

The capillary unit hereinbefore referred to isv the reference numeral 83. cylindrical plug 84 having close sliding and sealing fit generally indicated by It comprises an upper a diameter affording a in bore 61 of the head. The plug 84 has an upper central bore 85 countersunk to a bottom central restricted orifice 86 below which is a short nozzle-like extension 81. Rod portions 88 and 89 secured in the lower end of plug 84 have lower portions bent toward each other and welded or otherwise fixed to a rod 90 which is coaxial with bore 86 and has a pointed end 9| slightly below the formation 81.

The lower end of rod 90 is forked into and secured to the top of a cylindrical plug 92 dimensioned for a close slidingand sealingflt in tube 82. The plug 92 has a countersunk top surface and is provided with an axial bore 93 which is continued through a bottom nozzle-like extension 94. the bore being coaxial with rod 90. The rod rigidly maintains a predetermined spacing between plug y84 which defines the flow orifice 86 12 sloped as the latter, th;`

a stuiling box in is closed by spring and plug 92 which defines the ow-retarding passage 93. Y

A manipulating rod 95 has a lower bifurcated end secured to the top of plug 84 and at its upper end is formed as a ring 96 of such diameter that it can engage the top edge of ring 15 at opposite points for the support of the capillary unit. When vtlfiu's supported, pin 8| can be inserted in ring 15 to the position shown in Figure 1 to engage the inner bottom of ring 96 and thus hold down the capillary assembly. Under these conditions the capillary assembly will be caused to follow ring 15 as adjusted by screw 18, or upon removal of pin 8|, the assembly can be easily withdrawn upwardly for cleaning or replacement.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, the upper end of housing 53 isrestricted to provide a bearing portion 91 for the upper end of shaft 38 and also to provide a shoulder 98 on which is supported the inner race of a ball bearing assembly 99 received in a cylindrical cavity of a pulley |00 which is freely rotatable with respect to shaft 38, the pulley having thrust support on the upper end of the bearing portion 91. Pulley |00 constitutes the driving memberof a clutch whose driven portion comprises a cup I0| which carries a friction disc |02 cooperable with a top cylindrical boss portion of the pulley. Cup |0I lhas an upwardly projecting neck |03 threaded into a collar portion |04 of a member |05 which has an upper circumferential flange |06 under c cup |0I. The driven portion of the clutch, constituted by cup |0| and member |05 is splined on shaft 38.

With the parts in the relation shown in Figure 4 and drive to the pulley |00 being transmitted from any suitable source through belts shaft 38 will be driven, since the clutch |09 which causes the shipper to bear downwardly on the ball bearing assembly II0 and thus press the friction disc |02 against pulley |00. If it is desired to interrupt the drive, shipper |01 is swung and through engagement with flange |06 lifts the driven member of the clutch to open the latter. Rotation of shaft 38,'of course', causes the operation of the pump gears 33 and 34.

A bowl ||2, Figures 1 and 2, is connected by a pipe ||3 into a fitting II4 and therethrough to a pipe |I5 which is connected into the neck 21 of body portion I6. Fitting II4 is branched flushly into outlet port 10 through a nipple IIB whose passage is inclined as the port. The inner bottom wall of the bowl is sloped throughout and fiushly to the pipe ||3.

A pipe |I1 is connected into protuberance 31, being thus in communication with the outlet side of the pumpl and extends upwardly to be connected ilushly through a fitting ||8 into an inclined port II9 which debouches upwardly and inwardly into bore 61 of the head 56, the passage of the fitting being inclined as the port.

l A pipe |20 leads upwardly from the hollow ly connected into a bore |24 througha iitting |25, the bore being downwardly inclined into the head enlargement 64 above bore |2|, and the passage of. fitting |25 being inclined as bore |24.

.It is herein assumed that the described apparatus is mounted on the bottom M of a tank which for the purpose of temperature control may contain, for example, distilled water whose temperature is regulated in any suitable manner, the level of the liquid being, of course, below any open portions of the apparatus. With the apparatus at rest, a suitable amount of the liquid to be tested is run into the pan II2 and thence iiows through pipes 3 and I| 5 and fitting H4 to the reservoir i8 in the required amount which may be observed through gauge 25. It is important that a fairly certain amount of liquid be introduced into the reservoir. It should not be up to the lower end of plug 93, nor should it be so small with respect to the capacity'of the pump that air will be entrained.

With the properv amount of liquid in the reservoir, drive to the pump is started and fluid from the reservoir vis consequently delivered through pipe Ill and port H9 to the bore 617 above plug 84'. Theliquid delivery is in amount' greater than that which can escape through iiow orifice 86 and consequently there is an overow at the top of extension 68 and through port 10, fitting H4, and pipe backto the4 reservoir. A constant head, which may be observed through the transparent disc 13, is thus maintained above orifice B6. Liquid escaping through orifice 86 meets the pointed 'upper end of rod 90, and iiows down the rod to the plug 93, the rod being so much smaller than the internal diameter of tube 62,'v that the liquid is guided downwardly entirely out the tube walls. The provision of this iiow guiding means is of great importance in turbulence, air entrainment etc., and it has been found that if the liquid is permitted to run down the walls of the tube, errors in reading will result.

'I'he flow retarding passage 93 of plug 92 is of such diameter and length as to have a definite flow retarding value with respect to the capacity of orilice 86. A With this relationship established," the liquid will back up above plug 92, in accordance with its viscosity, until at some point in the tube a substantially constant y head `is maintained, this head being lvisible through the walls of the tubewith reference tosuitable calibrations on the latter, to give-a reading determinative of the relative viscosity.

- It sometimes happens that the liquids being of contact with tested form a scum on the inside of the tube 62 or perhaps some foreign matter may be injected, lodging in the orifices and thus affecting accuracy. In such case itis asimple matter to withdraw the complete capillary unit, thoroughly clean it and return it with the assurance that it will be returned in toto to its original disposition relative to tube 62. Also, in. testing liquids greatly outside of the ordinary range, appropriately modified assemblies may be substituted. The measuring tube 62 vents to atmosphere through pipe |23 as does also the reservoir |8 through the intermediary of pipe |20. Bore 61 and pipe ||3 are upwardly ope It will be noted from the drawings and from the description that all liquid conduits, air vents, etc. are directed downwardly throughout to the drainage cocks 5| and 52, and all .joints are iiush. Consequently, upon opening the cocks at the 75 preventing completion ofV a testing operation, the apparatus may be thoroughly drained and flushed out with the use of only asmall quantity of circulated cleaning iiuid. vThere is noplace for the iiuid to hang .when the drainage cocks are opened. The importance of this feature will 'be understood when it is recognized thatv only a few drops of liquid varying in viscosity from the .liquid being tested will seriously affect the accuracy of the test. v

Base I6 and head 56 can be conveniently cast in metal or moulded in plastic.y These parts and the measuring tube should have the same coeilicient of expansion, in order to prevent undue strain and consequent inaccuracies under temperature changes. i

While, as hereinbefore stated, the invention has been shown in an embodiment at present premeans defining a ow retarding passagebelow said orifice, means for maintaining above said oriiice a constant' head of the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, the head attained above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid, and now-guiding means below said orifice receiving the fiow from the latter and guiding it downwardly out of contact with the inner walls of said tubular means. v

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the iiow guiding means is constitutedby a rod disposed between said deiining means in said tubular means and spaced throughout from the inner walls of the latter suiciently so that liquid flowing down the rod will not contact said inner walls.

3. A viscosimeter comprising vertically disposed tubular means, means deiining a restricted flow'oriiice at the upper portion of said tubular means, means defining a flow retardingI passage below said orifice, means for maintaining above said orifice a constant head of the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, the head attained above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid,l and means directly connecting the orifice defining means and passage-defining means to maintain a predeterminedy spacing between the` two, the said defining means and `connecting means constituting a unit removable lengthwise lfrom said tubular means, said unit including a portion above said orifice by means of which the unit is manipulable. .f1 v

4.v Apparatus according Ito claim 3 wherein the connecting means is constituted by a rod substan- 0 below said orifice, means for maintaining above said orifice a constant head of the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, the head attained above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid, means directly iining means and passage-defining means to connecting the orifice de-Y maintain a predetermined spacing between the two, the said defining means and connecting means constituting a unit adjustable lengthwise of said tubular means, and means for maintaining said unit in adjusted position.

6. A viscosimeter comprising vertically disposed tubular means, means defining a restricted flow orifice at the upper portion of said tubular means, means defining a flow retarding passage below said orifice, means for maintaining above said orifice a constant head of the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, the head attained above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid, means directly connecting the orifice defining means and passage-defining means to maintain a predetermined spacing between the two, the said defining means and connecting .means constituting a unit removable lengthwise :from said tubular means, and a rod projecting above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid, means directly connecting the orifice defining means and passage-defining means to mined spacing between the two, one of said plug portions being provided with an orifice for inflow into the measuring chamber and the other of said plug portions being provided with a flowretarding passage for the outflow from said chamber.

10. A unit according to claim 9 wherein a manipulating rod is secured to the infiow plug, said rod projecting oppcsitely from the outflow plug.

11. A viscosimeter comprising a hollow base, a measuring tube extending vertically upwardly from the base and communicating with the interior of the latter, a tubular head on said tube in communication therewith, means in said head above said tube defining a fiow orifice, means in the lower portion of said tube defining a flow-retarding passage, means for delivering liquid from said base to the interior of said head above said orifice in amount greater than the fiow capacity of said orice, an overflow outlet in said head establishing a constant head of liquid above said orifice, a pipe connecting said outlet with the interior of said base, and a filling tube in con- ,nection with said pipe.

12. A viscosimeter comprising a hollow base, a measuring tube extending vertically upwardly from the base and communicating with the interior of the latter, a tubular head on said tube maintain a predetermined spacing between the two, the said defining means and connecting means constituting a unit removable lengthwise from said tubular means, a rod projecting upwardly beyond the upper end of said tubular means so as to be accessible for the manipulation of said unit, and means engaging the last-named rod for maintaining said unit in certain longitudinal relationship to said tubular means.

8. A viscosimeter comprising vertically disposed tubular means, means defining a. restricted flow orifice at the upper portion of said tubular means, means defining a fiow retarding passage below said orifice, means for maintaining above said orifice a constant head of the liquid whose viscosity is to be determined, the head attained above said passage indicating the viscosity of the liquid, means directly connecting the orice defining means and passage-defining means to maintain a predetermined spacing between the two, vthe said defining means and connecting means constituting a unit removable lengthwise from said tubular means, a rod projecting upwardly beyond the upper end of said tubular means so as to be accessible for the manipulalion of said unit, and means adjustable longitudinally of said tubular means engaging the lastnamed rod for maintaining said unit in certain longitudinal relationship to said tubular means.

9. For use in a viscosimeter having vertical tubular means which includes a measuring chamber, a unit comprising plug portions insertable in said tubular means and means connecting said plug portions to maintain a predeterin communication therewith, means in said head above said tube defining a flow orifice, means in the lower portion of said tube defining a flowretarding passage, a pump in said base with its inlet side communicating with the interior of the latter, a pipe connecting the outlet side of the pump with the interior of said head above said orifice, the pump having a delivery capacity greater than the flow capacity of said orifice, an overflow outlet in said head4 establishing a constant head of liquid above said orifice, and a pipe connecting said outlet with the interior of said base.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein a drive shaft for the pump extends vertically therefrom, wherein a rigid tubular housing secured to the base is provided for said shaft, and wherein said tubular head is. secured to said housing.

14. A viscosimeter comprising a hollow base, a

`measuring`tube extending vertically upwardly from the base and communicating with'the interior of the latter, a tubular head on said tube in communication therewith, means in said head above said tube defining a flow orifice, means in the lower portion of said tube defining a flowretarding passage, means for delivering liquid from said base to the interior of said head above said orifice in amount greater than the fiow capacity of said orifice, an overflow outlet in said head establishing a constant head of liquid above said orifice` a pipe connecting said outlet with the-interior of said base, and venting means including a tube connecting the interior of the base with the`head below said orifice and including a tube extending upwardly from said head from below said orifice.

HERMAN ALBERTINE. 

